NSW is peppered with an impressive collection of excellent regional restaurants, whether you’re down by the coast, up in the mountains, or sleeping amongst the forest.
Our out-of-town eateries offer dining experiences that shine, through their direct access to the country’s best produce, and exceptional talent in the kitchen inspired by their surroundings. Beyond the essential pies, parmigianas, and pints consumed on any good road trip stop at a classic country pub or small-town bakery, plan your next weekend escape from Sydney around of the best restaurants in regional NSW.
Bistro Molines
749 Mount View Road, Mount View (Hunter Valley)
Image credit: Bistro Molines | Instagram
Bistro Molines is the passion project of French couple Robert and Sally Molines, and that passion is felt in the warm service and every dish on the menu.
The “eclectic French” menu stays true to how it was when they first opened back in 2008, with a roster of seasonal specials that always delight. Start with Robert’s house-made pâté, and don’t miss their juicy twice-roasted duck. Stay for their textbook crème brûlée while taking in the views over the rolling vineyards below, or book a stay at their two-bedroom cottage just steps away—a perfect base for exploring the Hunter Valley. Book here.
The Zin House
329 Tinja Lane, Eurunderee (Mudgee)
Situated on the spectacular family-owned and -run Lowe Estate winery, The Zin House is run by long-time veteran chef and past NSW Rural Woman of the Year winner Kim Currie.
The food is seasonal, local (with much from their own extensive kitchen gardens, orchards and grazing farmland) and the optional wine pairing from Lowe Estate is matched by David Lowe himself. Keep your eyes peel for their hands-on cooking school events, too—a great reason for a weekend trip. Book here.
Fire Kitchen
Osborn House, 96 Osborn Avenue, Bundanoon (Southern Highlands)
Image credit: Osborn House | Supplied
In response to the insane popularity of their fire-fuelled, pop-up dining experience Fire Feast, Osborn House turned the offering into its permanent dining experience. Fire Kitchen draws on South American traditions of cooking over fire, with a menu of smoky stunners like ember-cooked pumpkin with crema, local honey and chilli crunch; Argentinian-style Wagyu flank with chimichurri, demiglace and lemon; and butterflied Acapulco-style whole Goldband snapper, plus wood-fired sides and desserts.
The charming dining room has breathtaking views over Morton National Park, with an outdoor terrace where you can watch the flames rising on the iron dome, parilla grill, and barbeque—we can't begin to describe the magical smoky scent. You could visit for the day (Fire Kitchen is open for dinner Thursday–Sunday and lunch on weekends), but we'd book a stay at the stunning boutique hotel too so you can enjoy a few cocktails on the terrace. Book here.
Ciro's Pizza
1 Raymond Road, Thirroul (Wollongong)
Image credit: Ciro's | Instagram
Behind the lace curtains of Ciro’s in this sleepy seaside suburb awaits some serious pizza. Fermented for 36 hours, their dough is the vessel for Neapolitan-style pizzas, perfectly blistered from their woodfire oven.
There are pizzas for traditionalists and those more adventurous—their margarita with sweet San Marzano tomatoes sets the standard for the rest of the menu, including the Piselli with peas, mint, and pancetta. Dine in, or take your pizzas to the beach for the ultimate picnic. Book here.
Megalong Restaurant
3/7 Peach Tree Road, Megalong Valley (Blue Mountains)
Image credit: Megalong Restaurant | Instagram
Nestled into some of the Blue Mountains' most picturesque bushland, Megalong Restaurant is a paddock-to-plate dining experience in the purest form. Executive chef Colin Barker is creating immersive menus using produce almost entirely sourced from the kitchen garden and surrounding paddocks of the regenerative and organic LOT 101 farm.
The 50-seat restaurant is a renovated homestead with 360-degree views of the breathtaking valley, sandstone escarpment, and productive gardens. When you visit, you'll be treated to a $165pp tasting menu—a daily-changing feast based on what the team have farmed and foraged. Expect snacks on arrival followed by simple but perfected proteins, vegetable sides, fruit-based desserts, and petit fours. Book here.
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Quarterdeck
13 Riverside Drive, Narooma (South Coast)
Image credit: Quarterdeck | Instagram
You may not guess that this fire engine-red weatherboard shed on the water at Narooma’s Wagonga Inlet is a Merivale venue. Starting its life as an oyster shack (Narooma holds an annual oyster festival that's definitely worth a visit), at Quarterdeck you're dining right dine on the water where the oysters you’re eating are being cultivated.
Here, they’re served with a zingy pineapple and pepper mignonette. The whispers of the old tiki bar that once was are still there, but the food is more elevated. Drop in for a couple of tacos and cocktails, or opt for a more stately affair with whole roasted spatchcock and grilled swordfish. Book here.
Bar Heather
139 Jonson Street, Byron Bay
Image credit: Bar Heather | Instagram
Run by two ex-sommeliers and a chef who has cooked at Sydney fine dining institutions Sixpenny and Ester, Bar Heather focuses on natural wines and seasonal dishes.
Not being tied down by one particular cuisine makes for a fun and refreshing dining experience, and Heather is also cultivating community with BYO night every Wednesday and live jazz every Thursday night. Book here.
Margan Restaurant
1238 Milbrodale Road, Broke (Hunter Valley)
Attached to the much-awarded Margan Wines, Margan Restaurant has been impressing Hunter Valley visitors for almost 20 years.
The one-hectare kitchen garden and orchard keep the menu seasonal and with a strong local connection, with a range of dining experiences on offer including a tasting menu and farm tours. As well as Margan Wines, the beverage list stars other single-vineyard and sustainably minded producers, making this stop a must-visit for considered, show-stopping dining in regional NSW. Book here.
Raes Dining Room
6-8 Marine Parade, Byron Bay (Northern Rivers)
Image credit: Raes | Instagram
As one of the most beloved holiday destinations in Australia, Byron Bay is bound to attract some of Australia’s best culinary minds. Across from beautiful Wategos Beach, one of the region’s best swimming spots, is Raes Dining Room at the ultra-chic Raes on Wategos hotel.
From executive chef Jason Saxby, this light and coastal eatery plates up modern Australian with plenty of Mediterranean influence. You can book in at the restaurant for a three-course meal, or do the tasting menu. When you're done, head downstairs to the Cellar Bar and imagine life as a local. Book here.
EXP. Restaurant
2188 Broke Road, Pokolbin (Hunter Valley)
Image credit: EXP. Restaurant | Instagram
A polished and comprehensive experience, EXP. Restaurant was opened in 2015 by chef and owner Frank Fawkner.
EXP. takes full advantage of its renowned surroundings, from the local farm produce used in the two tasting menus on offer to the wine list. To see how the magic happens, ask for a seat at the chef counter, where you can enjoy the spectacle of wood-fired grills, or in the restaurant garden to soak up the fresh Hunter Valley air while you dine. This is impressive Aussie dining that would fit in and delight in any capital city, let alone its beautiful Hunter Valley locale. Book here.
Pipit
Shop 4/8 Coronation Avenue, Pottsville (Northern Rivers)
Image credit: Pipit | Instagram
Pipit is a not-so-hidden gem on the far north coast headed by former Paper Daisy chef Ben Devlin, who did a stint at the former World's Best Restaurant, Noma in Copenhagen—no biggie.
They specialise in hyper-seasonal, hyper-local dining mostly starring seafood, with the goal of shining a light on the beauty of what's available in the region. You can opt for an eight- or six-course set menu (or go a la carte at lunchtime and Mondays), and find a new favourite on the all-Australian wine and spirits list. Book here.
Babyface Kitchen
1/179 Keira Street, Wollongong
Image credit: Babyface Kitchen | Instagram
Babyface is the type of restaurant everyone wishes they lived within walking distance from—it's because they do everything from snazzy snacks and wine to an all-out culinary experience.
Pop in for their “halfway sourced” snack menu every Thursday and Friday night to sample charcoal-grilled Wagyu beef skewers with oyster cream and pickled green tomato, or raw kingfish with yuzu and buttermilk. More substantial menu items showcase dishes you won’t find anywhere else in the country, like their Moreton Bay bug schnitty main, or roasted kombu ice cream for dessert. Book here.
Tonic
Victoria Street and Pym Street, Millthorpe (Orange region)
Image credit: Tonic | Instagram
Halfway between Orange and Bathurst, Tonic is the perfect stop for Sunday lunch or weekend dinner that packs a punch. Established in 2003, it sits at the heart of this historic town and has played no small part in putting it squarely on the foodie map.
The five-course set menu, which follows French principles with international inspo, is priced at $110 and is changed regularly according to what's in season in the region.
Paste
105 Main Street, Mittagong (Southern Highlands)
If you’ve ever felt frustrated you can’t try Michelin-Starred food in Australia, this regional NSW restaurant, sort of, a hack. Chef Bongkoch “Bee” Satongun has been awarded the accolade of Asia’s Best Female Chef in 2018, and Paste in Bangkok has been awarded Michelin Stars over the years.
Satongun took her Thai fine diner from the buzzing Bangkok to awaken the sleepy streets of Mittagong in the Southern Highlands, where the winning Thai flavours and techniques shine with Australian produce, like their salt-baked barramundi in a Laos-Vieng style orange curry. Takeaway classics are banished for lesser-known regional dishes, like sen chan pad pu, a crab noodle dish from the town of Chanthaburi. Book here.
Bistro Livi
Corner Brisbane Street and Proudfoots Lane, Murwillumbah (Northern Rivers)
In a charming town just inland from Byron Bay, Bistro Livi is an elegant and intimate local favourite that guarantees a memorable date night with is loosely Spanish-inspired menu and impressive wine selection.
They're all about the local produce (of which there is an absolute abundance), especially standout seafood served in small share plates made to pair with their interesting and considered beverage list. Book here.
Paper Daisy
21 Cypress Cresent, Cabarita Beach (Northern Rivers)
Image credit: Halcyon House | Instagram
The stunning in-house restaurant of the retro-glam Halcyon House hotel, Paper Daisy epitomises coastal NSW dining in its blue and white beachfront digs. Two courses are reasonably priced at $85pp, with plenty of pretty options, and snacks and supplements available.
Expect sophisticated simplicity celebrating the produce of the region, including plenty of seafood, prepared by head chef Andrew Milford. Bonus: the bar is stocked with 120+ gins for an after-dinner sip, and has its own a la carte menu for more casual dining. Book here.
Rick Stein At Bannisters
191 Mitchell Parade, Mollymook (South Coast) and 147 Soldiers Point Road, Soldiers Point (Hunter region)
Chef Rick Stein needs no introduction but, suffice to say, he cooks a mean fish. Dining on fresh seafood straight from the ocean is always an incredible experience, but when you’ve got the quality and expertise of this institution behind you, it doesn’t get much better.
With locations north (Port Stephens) and south (Mollymook) of Sydney, you have no excuse not to add this gem to your road trip hit list or plan a stay at the attached boutique accommodation.
Saddles
20 Ashbrookes Road, Mount White (Central Coast)
Image credit: Saddles | Instagram
Within striking distance of Sydney, Saddles is a waterfront restaurant and bakehouse set into the lush greenery of a plant nursery, all within 28 acres of land.
Saddles is a huge modern barn structure dripping in ornate furnishings set on 28 acres of bushland and serving up delicious, locally sourced seasonal Aussie cuisine. If you're just passing through, grab a brisket pie or honey and wattleseed scone from the bakehouse for the road. Book here.
Ates
33 Govetts Leap Road, Blackheath (Blue Mountains)
Image credit: Ates | Instagram
The menu at this cosy terracotta restaurant revolves around their 160-year-old woodfire oven fuelled by ironbark. Ex-Tetsuyas and Rockpool chef William Cowan-Lunn is constantly changing up his fire-driven menu that takes inspiration from cuisines all over the world.
Small plates here look like beef tartare potato galettes with gochujang and daikon, or Clarence River octopus on a smooth bed of almond tarator. The best of the woodfire, however, comes with mains. Wood-roasted half duck with grilled mango and white balsamic, or cauliflower with curry leaf butter perfectly kissed with flame. Book here.
Muse Restaurant
2450 Broke Road, Pokolbin (Hunter Valley)
It's hard to play favorites when you're talking about the Hunter, but Muse consistently tops so many “best of” lists that it would be wrong to leave it out.
It’s truly next-level dining that epitomises everything the Hunter is about. That is, wide-open spaces with views of the surrounding vineyards and a menu packed with all the best local produce and of course, wine. Book here.
Header image credit: The Zin House | Supplied
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